Marine Fisheries

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, upon the recommendation of Megan Davies, M.D., Acting State Health Director, Department of Health and Human Services, hereby announces that the following shellfish area temporary closures will take effect immediately:

No person shall take or attempt to take any oysters, clams or mussels or possess, sell or offer for sale any oysters, clams or mussels taken from the following polluted areas:

NEW HANOVER / PENDER / ONSLOW / CARTERET COUNTY

All those waters between Fort Macon and Snows Cut in New Hanover County, to include Myrtle Grove Sound, Masonboro Sound, Middle Sound, Topsail Sound, Stump Sound, New River, Bear Creek, Queens Creek, White Oak River, Bogue Sound, Tar Landing Bay, and all other creeks and tributaries within said boundaries.

All those waters bordered on the east and south by a line beginning at Hog Island Point thence across the bay to Long Point near Rumley Bay thence in a straight line to Lookout Point on the east shore of Thorofare Bay, thence in a straight line across Thorofare Bay to Hall Point near Atlantic, thence in a straight line to Fl. Beacon #20 in Core Sound, thence in a straight line to Fl. Beacon #27 in Core Sound, thence in a straight line to Fl. Beacon #37 in Core Sound, thence in a straight line to Shell Point on Harkers Island, thence following the shoreline to the western tip of Harkers Island, thence in a straight line to the Beaufort permanent closure line near Channel Marker #56B, thence in a straight line to the eastern tip of Carrot Island; to include North River, The Straits, Whitehurst Creek, Sleepy Creek, Jarrett Bay, Oyster Creek, Brett Bay, Nelson Bay, Thorofare Bay, Rumley Bay, Lewis Creek and Cedar Island Bay (SEE MAP).

West Bay / Long Bay / West Thorofare Bay / North Bay – All those waters south of a line beginning at Point of Marsh; thence in a straight line to a point on the northwestern shore of North Bay near Point of Grass, to include West Bay, Long Bay, West Thorofare Bay and North Bay.

Turnagain Bay – All those waters in Turnagain Bay upstream of a straight line across the mouth.

South River – All those waters in South River upstream of a straight line across the mouth.

The following remains closed:

BRUNSWICK / CARTERET COUNTIES

All those waters between Southport and the South Carolina State Line.

Newport River - All those waters in Newport River upstream of the Highway 70 High Rise Bridge and Morehead-Beaufort Causeway, to include all tributaries and Core Creek.

B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the N.C. Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03H .0103.

C. These temporary closures are due to heavy rainfall and resultant runoff.